Christ's College - University of Cambridge

Students' Views of Law at Christ's College

Amanda Chong (first year 2008)
James Tipler (first year 2008)

Amanda Chong (first year 2008)

Law at Christ’s has lived up to every expectation I had before coming to Cambridge. Certainly, there is a lot of reading to do, but once you plough through the texts, you will find it intellectually stimulating and perhaps even enjoyable. Having two-on-one supervisions with experts in your subject may seem slightly intimidating at first, but you will discover that your supervisors are patient with your questions and respectful of your opinions. They will encourage you to probe beyond the superficial issues and engage with deeper and more fundamental principles of law. And amid the intellectual exchange, there is the occasional banter!

At Christ’s, the academic rigour of law is matched with a warm and congenial environment. Any fears that may plague you as you plunge into three years of legal study shall be assuaged by the friendly members of the Christ’s College Law Society. Freshers can buy textbooks off their older “academic siblings” at huge discounts. The second and third years are always happy to give you helpful tips along the way; ranging from the fine art of navigating the Squire Law Library to how you may cut down your reading time by half (a clue: you don’t always have to read the whole case). CCLS also organises mooting competitions and socials (look forward to the annual curry dinner!). People often comment that lawyers seem to be the most tight-knit subject group of the lot. It’s true, there’s nothing like a good essay crisis to build camaraderie.

The lawyers at Christ’s work very hard, and yet have a life outside of it. Some do taekwondo, cheerlead, play rugby, or sing for the chapel choir. Others act in plays, campaign for Lawyers without Borders, or even moot at a national level. The ping-pong paddles in the Christ’s law library would give you a pretty good idea of the kind of work-life balance we keep here. The all-rounded education and the friendships you form make law at Christ’s a truly invaluable experience. 

James Tipler (first year 2008): A Day in the Life of a First-Year Lawyer

8.15: Breakfast – Slightly bemused and with the cheesy strains of Cindys [a nightclub] still thumping in my ears, I struggle down to breakfast. The others are still in bed, but I know if I’m to make it through 3 lectures, a supervision and a Christ’s College Law Society dinner I need a hearty start; eggs are the way forward. 

9.00-12.00: Lectures – Luckily the Law Fac is just 15 minutes walk from the Plodge [Porters’ Lodge], so we’re always on time. One strong cup of coffee and a slice of one of the many delights from the legendary patisserie Nadia’s later and I’m ready to go.

Three hours later and I leave, mind expanded, after a morning of sex, lies and constitutional heresy. Or as the syllabus insists on calling it, statutory sexual offences, tortious libel and a critical look at parliamentary sovereignty.

13:30: Back in college I’m tucking into the essential Boots Meal Deal and cracking on with the reading list that has been my nearest and dearest for the past three days (fortunately I’ll have a different one to look at tomorrow, before I get too attached). I ask myself how any law student survived pre-Westlaw [an electronic database]. There’s more than enough to keep me busy and I can’t believe the breadth and variety of topics we’ve managed to cover in the first few weeks alone. Just me and the books. 

16.30: Supervision – Having spent so much time staring out the window and narrating my day I haven’t managed to cover all the work set. But with a good general idea I make it through the discussion, knowing that my supervision partner (one of the other fresher lawyers) is in the same boat. It’s challenging, but rewarding; the difficult questions get answered, and I’m left with some even harder ones to scratch my head over during the next few weeks.

19.30: Dinner – After a hectic day, CCLS (our self-styled “answer to the A Team”) have the evening’s entertainment sorted. Graceful speeches, high brow discussions and classy presentation; the CCLS has none of this. But the food’s good and it’s a great opportunity to relax, share banter with the other law students (and supervisors), and enjoy the many weird and wonderful activities our Law Soc team have in store.

c.23:00:  – Time to myself, and the night’s still young. Is that Cindys I hear calling once again? Or just the drunken wailing of half-dressed townies?
Early night then.